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HomeMy WebLinkAbout_2003 06 30 City Commission Workshop Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP JUNE 30, 2003 CALL TO ORDER The Workshop of Monday, June 30, 2003 of the City Commission was called to order by Deputy Mayor Robert S. Miller at 6:01 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Mayor John F. Bush, present via teleconference call Deputy Mayor Robert S. Miller, present Commissioner Michael S. Blake, arrived at 6:06 p.m. Commissioner Edward Martinez, Jr., present Commissioner Sally McGinnis, present Commissioner David W. McLeod, present City Manager Ronald W. McLemore, present City Attorney Anthony A. Garganese, absent After a moment of silence, Deputy Mayor Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance. AGENDA 1. A. Office Of The City Manager Budget Review For FY 04. Human Resources: City Manager Ronald W. McLemore presented this Budget. Commissioner Michael S. Blake arrived at 6:06 p.m. Concession Stand Operations: Manager McLemore began this discussion. Mr. Chuck Pula, Parks and Recreation Department also addressed the City Commission on this issue. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 30,2003 PAGE20F6 Commissioner David W. McLeod inquired, "What happened to the idea of the Little League running the Concession Stand?" Manager McLemore responded, "We never got complete bids on that." Mr. Pula added, "The Little League proposal didn't include the soccer complex, and the Commission really wanted to have both of them covered. Because Soccer wasn't willing to put in a proposal on the soccer aspect - we submitted them the same bid package that Mr. Franks bid on and they did not respond at all. They have got some other issues that they are working through at the present time regarding the Little League organization and they don't feel they are ready to address this issue at all right now." Commissioner McLeod said, "I will check that because the information I had was that they were very interested in doing it." Discussion. With further discussion, Commissioner Blake stated, "In my opinion, I feel comfortable going forward with it, one last time - and implementing some of these changes. I would like to see the cost engineered more than the prices that we are charging, and do it from that side." Commissioner Edward Martinez Jr. stated, "What I have heard is - to allow the City to go on." Deputy Mayor Miller added, "I think that is the consensus." Fire Department: Discussion ensued on the proposed Consolidation issue. Manager McLemore said to the City Commission, "Based on what we have looked at, our recommendation is that you should sincerely consider this as an option, but only on a cost of service basis, where we maintain the powers; we are simply contracting with another entity - to do a job at a Level of Service that we define and it is purely on a business basis. On that basis, we have a potential for three and one-half (3Y2) to four percent (4%), depending on what scenario we choose, of savings. On the qualitative side rather than the quantitative side, there are some things to be considered." Discussion. Mr. Robert Frank, Deputy County Manager, Seminole County, 1101East First Street, Sanford, Florida: addressed the City Commission. Discussion. Commissioner Martinez inquired, "How would this change affect the Tenure, Rank, and pay status of our Firefighters?" Manager McLemore stated, "That is the kind of thing you work out in the details of a contract. I am sure the pay wouldn't be going down, and we would certainly put that in the contract. They wouldn't lose any money." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 30, 2003 PAGE30F6 Commissioner Martinez then said, "Well, during the transition period, there will not be any reductions in Rank?" Commissioner Martinez then said, "As far as Rank is concerned, and Tenure in office, would those be affected during a transition period?" Mr. Frank stated, "If you are speaking of Seniority, Commissioner, what we have done in the past, and what we would propose to do this time, would be that Seniority - they would be plugged in exactly where they are right now. If they have ten (10) years, they would be assumed to have ten (10) years service with the County. Now, as far as Rank, we have touched on that slightly, however, until we get to the point where we have a contract and we actually insert particular positions in, we anticipate there would be some reductions in Rank." , Further discussion. Commissioner Sally McGinnis stated, "I would be interested to see what the Fire Chief has to say." Fire Chief Timothy 1. Lallathin stated, "My personal feeling is that I would like to remain here as the Fire Chief of the City of Winter Springs, however, if the Elected Officials desire that this Fire Department be consolidated with Seminole County, obviously I want to make sure that all the Personnel's needs are taken care of, as well as the future needs of the citizens." Manager McLemore then advised the City Commission that "The County is making an offer to Tim [Lallathin] to come over, instead of remaining here, if he so desires." Commissioner Martinez stated, "He is a winner!" Commissioner Blake added, "But we wouldn't be." Discussion ensued on fire vehicles and equipment costs and revenues. Commissioner Blake remarked, "If we have invested City tax-payer dollars into equipment that has a future use for life, that is a cost to our citizens. If we are not accounting for that cost - if we are not selling that useful life which is remaining as part of this - bringing revenue in or at least receiving back some revenue that would offset the taxpayer's costs of that capital equipment going forward, then what we really have is an understatement of costs. I just want to make sure that we have fair numbers here..." Manager McLemore stated, "...It can be done several different ways - and we need to analyze that, whichever way we do it." Commissioner Blake added, "I hope there is nothing in here that says we will turn over any Fund Balance." Manager McLemore said, "No." Commissioner Blake then said, "If we have heavy equipment, if we have property - equipment then we have an investment that has some future useful life - if we spend time paying for it, and it still has some useful life left, and then we give it up, and we are being charged contract services rates past then, I want to make sure that those numbers properly calculate the contribution of capital as brought into the arrangement - and if they aren't, then I think we are understating the cost." Manager McLemore stated, "We agree." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 30, 2003 PAGE 4 OF 6 With further discussion, Commissioner Blake stated, "You understand that I have some concerns in this capital area, and I would like to see those addressed as we go forward - hopefully before we make any final decision on this." Manager McLemore stated, "Yes." Manager McLemore then said, "The only direction that we would ask for is - do you want to go to that next level of study, and get down to those details - the way I would propose it is if you want to go to the next level, we would bring back a - draft contract to address all those issues." Discussion ensued on Levels of Service and Employee Benefits. Commissioner Blake next inquired about Employer's contributions. Mr. Frank stated, "The Employer's contributions - get put into your account and those are your funds." Commissioner Blake said, "In effect, it is immediate Vesting." Mr. Frank then said, "I understand that it is, and I could double check on that." Next, Commissioner Blake asked, "What percentage does the County put in, per employee?" Mr. Frank responded, "I believe it is significantly greater than the ten percent (10%), eighteen to twenty (18-20), but I could double check that." Commissioner Blake then stated, "If the Employer makes his contributions, are you telling me that if they make those contributions into the 457, then they are at the same level, and they are immediately Vested, as opposed to putting it into the Defined Benefit Plan..." Mr. Frank stated, ".. .As I understand it, and I will double check on that." Discussion. Mayor Bush ended his conference call at 7:30 p.m. Tape 2/Side A Discussion. Commissioner Blake stated, "I would like to see the answers to the questions that we posed, whatever format you think is most effective to get that to us." Regarding a possible draft Contract, Commissioner Martinez suggested, "You need to come back with something that we can look at." Commissioner McGinnis inquired, "What is a reasonable timeframe to expect for - the draft, prior to this contract?" Manager McLemore stated, "I think we are talking about thirty (30) days or so." Deputy Mayor Miller stated, "I get the distinct impression that we want more information and we want to take the next step." Deputy Mayor Miller added, "I think that we have the consensus here to move forward with whatever you want to call the next step, whether that is a draft of a procedural process that might lead to a contract." Deputy Mayor Miller inquired, "So we could anticipate another Workshop in sixty (60) days?" Deputy Mayor Miller then said to Manager McLemore, "So, you will bring it up at some future Commission Meeting, so we can put it on the Agenda." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 30, 2003 PAGE 5 OF 6 Health Insurance: Manager McLemore and Ms. Frangoul briefly addressed the City Commission on this portion of the Workshop. Ms. FluffY Bellus, Bellus Insurance Services, 1251 Miller Street, Winter Park, Florida: presented information to the City Commission. Deputy Mayor Miller called a Recess at 8:08 p.m. The Workshop reconvened at 8:16 p.m. Ms. Bellus stated, "The United[Healthcare] Plan 399 and 499 is the one that I am recommending - the UnitedHealthcare is the recommended carrier because it is a flat renewal; it is Open-access which means no referral, no gate-keeper. It is a larger Provider Network. The EAP which is the Employee Assistance program - that is included in the premium with UnitedHealthcare." Ms. Bellus added, "I also am recommending that you add some cost sharing for the employee's premium - and the reason that I am recommending that is, we have had many discussions in meetings where employees would like to opt out." Furthermore, Ms. Bellus stated, "So with UnitedHealthcare, and with Humana, you could do ninety-nine percent (99%) or anything less than that as an option." Discussion. Commissioner Blake asked Ms. Bellus about her compensation. Furthermore, Commissioner Blake said to Ms. Bellus, "In terms of dollars, what has been your total compensation over the eight (8) years?" Ms. Bellus responded, "I would have to get that to you, I don't know." Commissioner Blake added, "What about this most recent year?" Ms. Bellus responded, "I don't know. I could get it for you." Tape 2/Side B Next, Commissioner Blake further inquired about Ms. Bellus' compensation. With discussion, Ms. Bellus stated, "I would have to get that to you." Deputy Mayor Miller added, "Let's have her give us the information." Commissioner Blake said, "I would appreciate that - Ron [McLemore], I think we need to make sure to get a full accounting and full report on that. And also, an issue that I think needs to be addressed is why over eight (8) years, when this is a very competitive marketplace, we haven't shopped out these types of services." Discussion. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS MINUTES CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP - JUNE 30, 2003 PAGE 6 OF 6 Manager McLemore stated, "When Fluffy [Bellus] came on, we did bid everything several years ago, I don't remember exactly what year it was when the League came on - and we had a four percent (4%) agreement, and the Commission was comfortable with that, and it stayed at four percent (4%) all this time. So, if it is an issue that we need to look at it, we will look at it and we will do some negotiating and see what we can come up with." Deputy Mayor Miller stated, "I look forward to recelvmg your input on your remuneration." Furthermore, Deputy Mayor Miller spoke about Ms. Bellus' offer to provide information, and stated "You said you would do it, and I will hold you at your word for that." Members of the Commission complimented Ms. Bellus on her services to the City. Commissioner Martinez departed the Workshop at 8:46 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Workshop was adjourned at approximately 8:47 p.m. "..f., . 1".,-" . ,,- . / . . ) : -" _ ~ i\. - ~.. "~'